I
Beginnings and Early Lodges
As it was stated in the previous chapters, Freemasonry in Ukraine was truly important in the process of reviving its cultural identity, for example, by influencing the Brotherhood of Saint Cyril and Methodius. Those regular Masonic organizations that existed in Ukraine during the XVIII and XIX centuries were strongly influenced by Polish and Russian ‘brothers’ without providing any serious chance to allow solely Ukrainian lodges to evolve. However, mostly in the Russian lodges many Ukrainian nobles began to participate and slowly grow together with the cultural and political events that were surrounding them. Vasyl’ Lukashevych or Ivan Kotlyarevsky were clearly identified with Ukraine and its culture, the latter became known for his “Eneida”, the first truly literary work in Ukrainian language. The Decembrist movement that was widely influenced by Freemasons began to question the Russian political system, and began to flirt with some non-pro-Russian monarchy pan-Slavic ideas. Some Freemasons [and not only them] in Ukraine have formed The Society of United Slavs, which was paying more attention to Ukraine and its role in the Slavic cultures, leaving it the central role in their future federation.239 Masonic obedience of any jurisdiction was always tending to become more or less blended with the territory of their current location. Above all this blending was cultural and often got political, for example as it became in France, Poland or later in Ukraine.
Internationalism of Freemasonry is important, and all its symbolic allegories are based on universalism, natural religion, and deism, however, politics and ethnic differences always tend to shape this fraternity. Therefore, it was often divided between different groups of various political interests, parties, and royal courts. Before the 1840s Ukrainian identity was weak and belonged to other dominating ethnic or political influences, primarily Polish and Russian. Early regular Masonic lodges in Ukraine were also deprived of its own national jurisdiction, but its representatives could belong to various noble or middle-class Ukrainian families that began to move in the direction of cultural revivalism. Everything became more political and serious after 1905 when the Russian Tsar Nicholas II under pressure from progressive and liberal circles decided to proclaim the Manifesto on October 17 that year, which guaranteed more freedoms that included press, gatherings, religion and more. Previously it was discussed how this decision influenced specifically Russian Masons and their formation under the Grand Orient of France and later the Grand Orient of the Peoples of Russia. Nevertheless, there was a difference between Ukrainian and Russian Freemasons at that time, additionally it was the era when political movements that defended ethnic self-identity and autonomies within the Russian Empire were growing quickly. Many activists and politicians became interested in the humanitarian and anti-absolutist principles in Freemasonry. One of the original early XX century Ukrainian Freemasons and political activists Volodymyr Chekhivsky once said that fraternity between all the people and brotherhood between the nations, fight against the Tsarist
239 Kryzhanivska, Secret Organizations: Masonic Movement in Ukraine, pp. 105-106.
absolutism and despotism, became his number one motives to join.240 He gave these witness accounts in the Soviet prison years later. Just imagine how relevant were his words there, and how they did not lose their importance today. Also, Alexander Kerensky added that this fraternity provided the unity between various political party organizations, providing stronger bonds between leaders of educated zemstvo [local self-governments] and city intelligentsia.241 On the other hand, historian Grigoriy Aronson thought that elites and politicians were prone to join Freemasonry due to their strive for leadership and ambitions only, removing all kinds of idealism.242 The same opinion was given by Aron Avrech in his book Freemasons and Revolution, where he generally diminished the role of ethics and idealistic goals of Masonry.243 Both opinions should be taken into account. Some, indeed, joined Freemasonry out of idealistic notions but many, especially politicians were interested merely in their own practical gains, however, those were not necessarily negative.
Post October Manifesto French lodges in Ukraine were installed soon after the same were introduced by the Grand Orient of France to St. Petersburg and Moscow. In Ukraine, Kyiv and Odessa became the first Masonic centers closer to 1908-1909 after initiations of such figures as Ivan Luchytsky, Fedir Shteingel, Ivan Poltoratsky, Mykola Vasylenko, Mykhailo Hrushevsky and Evgen Sholts; all were presumably members of the Lodge “Kyiv Dawn”.244 Lawyers and political activists from the constitutional-democratic, social-democratic, or revolutionary-socialist parties were dominating those early lodges in Ukraine and Russia.
Professors and teachers such as Mykhailo Hrushevsky were also widely spread and often were able to enhance their political careers with the assistance of Masonic ‘brothers’. There should be no doubt regarding idealism, especially in the political Masonic lodges, however, they were also working in the direction of improving life. For example, there were no political extremists of any kind, neither from the left nor from the right wing of the political spectrum. Ukrainian Freemasons after 1905 wanted to get closer to the all-European status of their political activity, which they thought could not be achievable in the Russian Empire; actually according to Kerensky the same was happening in St. Petersburg and Moscow, they all wanted to learn, and the knowledge could include everything from democracy to clandestine activities.245 They wanted to find closer connections with France that was republican and parliamentarian, but not so much with Germany where Reichstag had less power and authority. Strangely Ukrainian Masonic ‘brethren’ of that time did not look for making connections with the British Freemasonry and it was probably caused by their original cultural closeness to France. Many nobles or generally educated people knew French and German as their second language, many received education in these countries.
First lodges were opened primarily by those ‘brothers’ who were initiated in St.
Petersburg or Moscow, some famous once as David Bebutov came to Ukraine to initiate new
240 State Archive of the Security Service of Ukraine. # 67098 FP, Volume 47, p. 203. [ДА СБ України. # 67098 ФП, т. 47. Арк. 203.
241 Alexander Kerensky, Russia on the Historical Turnabout, [Россия на историческом повороте], p. 81.
242 Grigoriy Aronson, Russian Freemasons in Politics, [Русские масоны в политике], (Novoe Russkoe Slovo,
1959) at p. 158.
243 Aron Y, Avrech, Freemasons and Revolution, [Масоны и революция], [М., Politizdat, 1990).
244 Kryzhanivska, Secret Organizations: Masonic Movement in Ukraine, p. 113.
245 Alexander Kerensky, Russia on the Historical Turnabout, [Россия на историческом повороте], p. 81.
candidates there. He was behind the installation of the Lodge “Kyiv Dawn”, many future members of it were initiated by him, and the list includes F. Shteingel, I. Poltoratsky [member of the constitutional-democratic party] and Lytvynov.246 The Lodges “Pravda”-Truth [1909],
“Ednannya”-Unification, “Federacija”, “The Dawn” [not to be mixed with the “Kyiv Dawn”]
and “The Light of Truth” were those original lodges that have established the base of Masonic structure in Ukraine.247
II
Political Involvement and Personalities
All Ukrainian Masons of that era were connected to politics and most of them, if they did not have direct Russian influence, were looking for political autonomy for Ukraine. Mostly they were not nationalists or socialist radicals, but they did look out for more freedom for their country; this activity was not always supported by their ‘brethren’ in Russia, which was often democratic in nature, though not so much into allowing everything. Ukraine was seen by them as an integrated part of Russia, but with its own dialect, similarly Berliners could always view Bavaria. Russian members of the Grand Orient of France [Provincial branch] or later the Grand Orient of the Peoples of Russia, both could think of democratization in their country, however, Ukraine or even Georgia were part of their realm, and whether it was democratic or monarchist, still they were not willing to give up any territories so easily. The only serious exclusion could be Poland to which both constitutional-democrats or social democrats were willing to provide at least an autonomy. First, the name itself, the Grand Orient of the Peoples of Russia came about due to Ukrainian representatives. The original idea to name it The Grand Orient of Russia was too Moscow centric to many regional representatives and one of them was Mikhailo Hrushevsky, probably the most influential Mason in Ukraine at that time. In 1912 he and other Masons from Kyiv insisted on naming the Grand Orient in such a way that it would include the people other than Russians and their position turned out to be successful.248 The whole situation and standing of the Ukrainian Freemasons that became prominent in the Grand Orient, French and Russian, was very different from the one that took place at the beginning of the nineteenth century, when Ukrainian autonomists were only beginning to realize their position in Eastern Europe. Political capabilities of the new Masonic or co-Masonic organization were allowing these developments to take place, and promulgate separatist or anti-imperial tendencies. Surely the word ‘separatism’ at this point is used in the context of the political spectrum of that time.
These tendencies were causing the biggest discussion among many members of the Grand Orient of the Peoples of Russia, who thought that Kyiv [or Kiev in Russian] belonged to Russia together with its Orthodox monasteries and history. Once in 1913 Alexander Kerensky had
246 Kryzhanivska, Secret Organizations: Masonic Movement in Ukraine, p. 113. Original source: Boris
Nikolaevsky, Russian Masons and Revolution, an interview with T. Bakunina, Masons in Russian Politics, [Масоны в русской политике], p. 99.
247 Ibid., p. 114, Original source: Andrey Nikovsky, Freemasonry in Russia Before the Revolution and
Beginning of War, [Масонство в Россіі перед революцией и началом войны], (Geneza journal, #1 [4], 1996) pp. 154-155.
248 Valeriy Soldatenko, Ukraine in the Revolutionary Period: 1917, [Україна в революційну добу: рік 1917],
(Prapor, 2008) at p. 102.
visited Kyiv and after touring the Kyiv-Cave monastery said that possibly Ukrainian Masons and political autonomists would be able to achieve their goals, but Russian people will never give up on their holy sites.249
These were serious talks and discussions, Hrushevsky was tending to split from Russia but maybe his good relations with the country’s liberals whom he wanted to use against the Tsar made him keep good relations with many of them in the Grand Orient. This organization was better than nothing, it was providing connections, information, political influence in the newspapers in St. Petersburg and Moscow. It covered major cities in Ukraine including Kyiv, Odessa, Kharkiv, Ekaterinoslav and even Berdychiv. According to Volodymyr Chekhivsky the Lodge “Star of the Orient” belonged to the ‘international Freemasonry’, alluding to its French jurisdiction.250 It may be very possible that the Grand Orient of France continued to exercise some influence and Ukrainian Masons were interested to work under its direct cover.
Additionally, it could provide better connections in Europe and particularly enhance relations with Paris. There was no direct difference or seclusion of Ukrainian and Russian Freemasons in the Grand Orient, they did not split in half, secessions or divisions were not deteriorating the organization. There was one very powerful uniting factor, the Tsar. All of them wanted to either limit his power or make it less influential in everyday lives, especially when it came to his conduct of the right-wing organizations. Surely, most of them wanted to change the government, fulfill their practical political ideas, so no serious fractionation became visible, as long as there was the absolute monarchy. Various political views that would not be able to get united in Ukraine in other cases, were indeed united on the Grand Orient representation, practically fulfilling the Masonic principle of being on the level [to be equal]. Mykhailo Hrushevsky was originally from the Eastern Galicia, and was foreign to the Russian parts of Ukraine but he decided to continue his political and Masonic activities specifically there. Most likely he was initiated into Freemasonry in France around 1903 during one of his professional [historian] visits to Paris and most definitely had participated in the Kyiv Lodge “Pravda”-Truth since 1909, and according to Alexander Halpern was leading Masons in Kyiv.251 So to speak, pro-Russian ‘brothers’ were seeing him as a possible threat and as a radical in all the questions that were related to Ukraine’s independence. His position was nearly uncompromising, and authoritative enough to remain as the leader of the Kyiv faction and strong enough to procure influence in St. Petersburg or Moscow. Russian secret police
‘okhranka’ was surely suspecting him of being the Austrian spy, who was possibly co-operating with its diplomatic mission in Kyiv and other places.252 Eventually, he was arrested and sent to Simbirsk into exile until March, 1917 when he was freed by his ‘brothers’ who became members of the Provisional, post-revolutionary government. His very serious political and famous activity in Ukraine, his presidency in the Central Council [Tsentralna Rada’] is
249 Andrey Nikovsky, Freemasonry in Russia Before the Revolution and Beginning of War, [Масонство в
России перед революцией и началом войны], p. 154.
250 State Archive of the Security Service of Ukraine, [Архів СБ України], #67098 FP, volume 47. pages 71-73, 2003-2004. Also see, Kryzhanivska, Secret Organizations: Masonic Movement in Ukraine, p. 117.
251 Kryzhanivska, Secret Organizations: Masonic Movement in Ukraine, p. 121. Original source: Boris
Nikolaevsky, Russian Masons and Revolution, an interview with Alexander Halpern, Masons in Russian Politics, [Масоны в русской политике], p. 66.
252 Ibid., p. 122. Original source: Central State Historical Archive of Ukraine, [ЦДІАК], F. 274, register. I, case
# 3322. page 1.
now part of history but by that time Hrushevsky broke with at least the Grand Orient of the Peoples of Russia in 1914 because of political differences with his ‘brothers’.253 After his arrest and exile many began to see him as a threat. Hrushevsky was constantly shifting to the political left and planned to somehow secure Ukraine's independence in 1917-18, when he was in charge of many political events there. All his ideas did not work in practice, he lost all the power, and later lived in the Soviet Ukraine, having relative freedom to work. Hrushevsky escaped the Soviet prosecutions because he accepted the Soviet authority but also did not live until the Stalin’s Great Purge of 1936-38, which he would probably not outlive.
Mykola Vasylenko was another clearly pro Ukrainian Mason during that time, who made a huge contribution to its educational system in the government of Hetman Ivan Skoropadsky [1918]. He was appointed to make the reform of the previously all imperial educational system, establishing the Ukrainian Academy of Sciences and generally the whole school system that outlived him and his ministerial post. Vasylenko was standing on the federalist-autonomist and social democratic position, and had a long experience of resisting the imperial government using non-violent, academic methods that included participation in the then well known ‘Fokin Secret Society’ [1890s].254 His political involvement in various activities during the rebellious acts in Kyiv in 1905 led to the arrest and incarceration which lasted for almost a year. Around that time, he began to get interested in Freemasonry due to its ideas of freedom, equality, and brotherhood that he and many others like him were looking for in Ukraine and in Russia. If he was initiated before 1910 then Vasilenko had definitely belonged to the French Grand Orient but still it’s hard to identify in which exact lodge he was initiated. Historian’s career did not bring a lot of financial gains, so he decided to get lawyer’s degree in Odessa and managed to do it by 1907 and soon with the possible help from Alexander Pergament and Ivan Luchytsky, both influential attorneys in that city, became a deputy chairman of the chamber of appeals.255 These persons were Freemasons, too, and managed to help Vasylenko get a new start, something clearly important and necessary in the Masonic life;
sometimes ‘brother’s do not help, referring to spiritual needs in Freemasonry, but often they become practical enough to assist each other’s careers.
Another famous Freemason from Ukraine was Dmytro Grygorovych-Barsky, also a lawyer and an influential person in the party of constitutional-democrats. He was someone who managed to get respect from Nikolay Chkheidze and even Mykhailo Hrushevsky.256 Certainly, political and attorney careers in the Grand Orient of the Peoples of Russia were significantly popular. It was able to unite aristocracy and representatives from the new middle class, people like Ivan Skoropadsky, a successor of the old Ukrainian noble family was practically working in the same organization with the lawyer from Russia Alexander Kerensky, who was a liberal-socialist [more of a centrist in modern terms]. At this point the political Freemasonry of the first two decades of the twentieth century in Russia, Ukraine, Georgia, Armenia, Baltic region,
253 Mikhailo Hrushevsky, Memoirs, [Спомини], (Kyiv, # 9 1989) at pp. 132-133. Also see, Kryzhanivska, p.
122.
254 V. Voronenko, L. Kisters’ka, Lеsya Matveeva, Igor Usenko, Yuriy Shemshuchenko, Mykola Prokopovych
Vasylenko, [Микола Прокопович Василенко], (Kyiv, Naukova Dumka, 1991) pp. 68-79.
255 Kryzhanivska, Secret Organizations: Masonic Movement in Ukraine, p. 121. Original source: Ibid., pp. 86-87.
256 Hrushevsky, Memoirs, [Спомини], p. 132.
and others was fulfilling its major goal. Future famous politician Ivan Skoropadsky had joined the organization called “Young Ukraine” together with Simon Petlyura and Serhiy Morkotun, and the establishment itself was most likely organized by the Lodge “Narcissus”.257 Simon Petlyura is often seen as controversial for his activities between 1918 and 1921 when he was the head of the Ukrainian People's Republic. Eventually this all-ongoing cooperation would lead to the establishment of the Central Council [Tsentral’na Rada] in Kyiv in 1917. This establishment was highly influenced by the Ukrainian Masons as much as was the Provisional government in Petrograd [St. Petersburg]. Good attitude of a ‘brother’ Fyodor Kokoshkin from Moscow helped the Central Council in Kyiv get more preferences from Alexander Kerensky, who was often reluctant to provide more autonomy to Ukraine. Eventually it turned out that the biggest achievement of all Ukrainian Freemasons before and after the February revolution of 1917 was the original recognition of autonomy under the name ‘Ukraine’ for the lands and people that practically never had their own national state. It was done through cooperation between both factions of the Grand Orient of the Peoples of Russia, where Kyiv Masons were specifically influential. It cannot be certainly said that without them Ukraine would not play a role as a new political entity after the fall of the Russian Empire, however, this is history and events were developing under the influence of many figures that were mutual friends in the Russian Grand Orient. Additionally, it incorporated various personalities that were not defending one ethnic or political state of Russia, but were advocating at least a federation, something very different from other political figures that were not Freemasons.
III
The Grand Lodge of Ukraine
Simon Petlyura was capable of forming the Grand Lodge of Ukraine in 1918-19 and began to seek multiple recognitions from other Masonic organizations in Europe. The Lodge was not very stable due to many complications that were happening on the political and war fronts. Almost immediately it sent the request to Switzerland seeking recognition from the International Bureau of Masonic Relations that was formed in 1902.258 Ukraine did not have any fully recognized government, it did not and could not retain the stability of its International Masonic recognition because such issues always require stability, mutual visits that need time and understanding of at least one established Masonic obedience. For example, in 1906-07 the Grand Orient of France was paying a lot of visits to Russia and many Russian representatives had to get initiated in France or at home, nothing could happen in a split of a second. Eventually, the Grand Lodge of Ukraine during the country's revolutionary and war period of 1917-1921 did not get established as an independent Masonic organization. It included previously known Lodges “The United Slavs” and “Narcissus”, the first one was organized in 1918 by Serhiy Morkotun and claimed to be the Grand Lodge, however, it failed to continue.259 Morkotun was
257 Kryzhanivska, p. 149, Original source: L. Hass, Wolnomularstwo ukraińskie. 1917-1921, [Ukrainian
Freemasonry. 1917-1921]. (Studia z dziejów ZSRR i Europy Środkowej. Volume. 18. 1983). pp. 57-58.
258 Ibid., p. 155. Original source: L. Hass, Wolnomularstwo ukraińskie. 1917-1921, [Ukrainian Freemasonry.
1917-1921], p. 64.
259 Ibid., pp. 153-154.
not in the best relations with S. Petlyura and both of these energetic and ambitious men claimed leadership in any possible Masonic establishment after 1917. According to Serhiy Efremov, there was no unity among various groups of socialists, liberals, and democrats; national interests were different in relation to each party or faction, so various formerly ‘good brothers’
became separated, and nothing was done neither to solidify the Grand Lodge nor to organize the country.260 The Masonic world did notice the existence of the new organization that followed the lines of the Grand Orient tradition - it was not recognized by the UGLE regular branch. Basically, now it is historically known that the Grand Lodge was indeed established due to the Bulletin issued by the mentioned International Masonic Bureau in Switzerland.261 Also, some historians believe that the Grand Orient of France was supporting the existence of Ukraine as an independent state, something that was not seen on the side of the French government, so many Ukrainian Freemasons believed that their connections would assist the process.262 It was definitely not enough, especially if the Grand Lodge was weak, and did not have any serious personal connections abroad, except for those that were established years ago through the Grand Orient of the Peoples of Russia. At this point it may be important to say that Freemasonry should stay out of politics as an organization, perhaps because of violating these principles it turned out to be the main reason why the Grand Lodge of Ukraine during its early stages in 1918-1921 did not stay solid. It was ripped apart by the internal political interests. Its predecessor GOPR was more stable specifically due to its unity in political goals, in 1917 it also fell apart because there was no mutual aim of getting rid of the absolute monarchy. The original Grand Lodge of Ukraine had followed the same fate because surely it was not looking at the Masonic Landmarks as the major unifying force, but was rather interested in becoming a tool in the hands of different political figures such as Serhiy Morotun or Simon Petlyura.
260 Serhiy Efremov, About Freemasonry in Ukraine, [Про масонство в Україні], People’s Newspaper,
[Народна газета] issue # 17 (198) at p. 6.
261 Kryzhanivska, p. 157.
262 Valeriy Soldatenko, Dmytro Vedeneev, Ukrainian Masons during the Revolution, [Українські масони в
добу революції], History of Ukraine, [Історія України], 2001, issue # 15, April, p. 1.